Rope Drop question

[gracie1]

What is the big deal about rope drop? Is it something special?? Were the type that would rather start later if there are emh that night, but wondering if were missing something huge if we decide not to do rope drop??

 

[soulmates]

It's the PRE-entrance show. We've never done it, but will this trip. Going in Aug and it will be VERY crowded. Our plan is to hit the park at opening and stay through lunch. Then head back to the resort during the hotest part of the day, and go back at dinner time. It's a personal preference.

 

[Robo]

What is the big deal about rope drop? Is it something special?? Were the type that would rather start later if there are emh that night, but wondering if were missing something huge if we decide not to do rope drop??

Here's more than you need to know


I arrive 30 minutes before opening time at any park, on any day.

MK's Rope Drop Ceremony called "Magic Kingdom
Welcome" (see link below) is, by far, the best and
most elaborate.

Guests are usually admitted starting about 15-20 minutes before
the posted opening time, to WAIT just inside the gates, in front of the trains station (near the "flower Mickey face.")

The ceremony lasts 6-7 minutes or so and starts 6-7 minutes before the scheduled opening time.

There is really only one more "formal" Rope Drop Ceremony... at DAK
called "The Adventure Begins"(see link below.)

Guests are usually admitted starting about 15-20 minutes before
the posted opening time, and they re-group to wait at the far end of the bridge from the Oasis (near the "Tree of Life.")

The ceremony lasts 6-7 minutes or so and starts 6-7 minutes before the scheduled opening time.


The above two shows feature Disney characters with "speaking
roles".
MK: (called "Magic Kingdom Welcome") at the train
station (with lots singing and
dancing, and a guest family).
DAK: (called "The Adventure Begins") after your cross
the bridge from the "Oasis" (no singing, but cute).

Epcot allows guests to "re-group" near Innoventions
and, on certain mornings, some of the characters show up
to quietly shake hands with a few of the folks standing at the rope.
CMs "hold" guests until scheduled open time, then
allow folks to go either way towards Soarin' or Test
Track/Mission Space.

At DHS the CMs have ropes across the street near the
Call-board/Tips-board/Starring Rolls eatery.
There will be a short (about 3-4 minutes) "show" which
will include a couple of selected Guests and then the
ropes are dropped
and everyone walks briskly
STRAIGHT AHEAD (with CM escorts)
towards the new Toy Story Midway Mania...
or turns RIGHT, and walks
briskly (with CM escorts) to ToT and/or RnRC.

At MK, if you have attended Cindy's Royal Breakfast
early, they do have a rope to hold you from FL until
"opening time".

If (IF) they perform a Rope Drop Ceremony at a given park, it will ONLY be ONCE per day (not twice.)

They might not perform it at all.

If (IF) they do perform a Rope Drop Ceremony at a given park on an AM EMH day, it will ONLY be performed for the EMH opening crowd and not at the "regular" opening time that day.

If (IF) they do perform a Rope Drop Ceremony at a given park, it will begin about 5-8 minutes before the scheduled opening time.

But, guests will be let into the park about 10-20 minutes before the scheduled opening time to get ready for the Rope Drop Ceremony.

To see if they will be performing the ceremony, look at the Steve Soares site.
(see link below)

Note: Like everything else at WDW, not EVERYTHING will
happen the same way or the same time (or even happen
at all) every day.
The best you can hope for is for what USUALLY happens.

Rope Drops are no exception to this.

I never miss being there before opening, EMH or
regular, but not just because of the "Rope Drop
Ceremonies"... its because you can do SO MUCH MORE
before the throngs of folks (who simply will NOT get
up early on vacation, bless their sleepy little
hearts) arrive later in the mornings.

---------------------------------------------

LINK Below-


The following site posts the stage shows, in-park and
other on-property shows and their times for the
CURRENT week.
(It is updated every weekend.)
The times may be "similar" for other dates as well.

Near the top of the page,
click on the colored links for the various
parks
and their show times.

http://pages.prodigy.net/stevesoares/index.htm

Be sure to check back to the site as the actual dates
of your trip get closer.

---------------------------------------------

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/RoboWDW/Silly Stuff/MK-Gates-RopeDrop-043008.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/RoboWDW/Silly Stuff/Epcot-RopeDrop-042908.jpg

On many mornings, guests (B) are held for Rope Drop near the HAT (#2)
before being released into the park at opening time (Regular of AM EMH.)
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/RoboWDW/Silly Stuff/DHS-EntranceRope-050808.jpg

On some days following Rope Drop, the CMs will direct guests to enter thru the "Alternate Path" via the Animation archway.
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/RoboWDW/Silly Stuff/DHS-Gates2TSMM_BE_092208.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/RoboWDW/Silly Stuff/DAK-RopeDrop-050108.jpg

 

[vicki_c]

The rope drop shows are cute, but IMO, THAT'S not the reason to do rope drop. Being there for rope drop (30 mins or more ahead as Robo posted) allows you to get a lot done in the morning.

You can do much more in the first 2 hours of park opening than you can later in the day in 4-5 hours.

We do rope drop almost every day, take a break, return later in the afternoon or evening, or else do rope drop through mid afternoon and then leave the parks for the day.

But we don't do evening EMHs or don't generally even do morning EMHs unless it's unavoidable (like Christmas week at MK).

 

[gracie1]

Thanks for the information! I think we will try to hit a rope drop at each park. Atleast to say we did it, lol! We normally don't sleep in on vacation! Our park schedule now has us going 16 hour days two days in a row!